The book is a fascinating read. It’s helpful to hear directly from the “converts.”

Scot McKnight mentions in the foreword, “If you are worried about numbers, they are still on the side of Evangelicals: more convert to Evangelicalism than away from it into Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches” (p. 10).

Rob, a NT professor at Southern Seminary, concludes the book by sharing a troubling question that his wife asked him: “What if someone reads your book and converts to Catholicism?” (p. 223).

Could my book encourage some readers to embrace a theological tradition that, if given the opportunity, I would personally discourage them from pursuing? The question continued to trouble me. I discussed the matter with a colleague, who noted that Evangelicals are going to either help set the terms of this discussion or simply react to others.

Personally, I’d rather help make sure all sides have a fair hearing.

Moreover, going back at least to the Reformation, Christians have a long history of publishing academic disputes of this sort. This genre of writing should be understood as in no way implying a contributor’s approval of anyone’s view except those explicitly expressed by him.

Indeed, most contributors to this book see themselves as disagreeing on fundamentally irreconcilable issues.

Is the pope the rightful head of the Christian church?

Is justification a forensic declaration?

Is it appropriate, or even commendable, to use icons in Christian worship?

Is special grace communicated to participants in the Lord’s Supper, and if so, in what way?

People often find that for which they search. Yet what would I like for readers to take with them from this book? I can think of several things:

I hope readers are able to recognize with greater sympathy the complex motivations which influence conversions to other Christian traditions.

I want readers who are struggling with the desire to leave their tradition to feel both more understood and, in many cases, more hesitant.

I hope that all Christians would find in this volume a model of peaceable ecumenical dialogue. (pp. 223–24, formatting added)

Update: Click the thumbnail image for details about some of the book’s authors meeting at Wheaton College on April 14.